BLOODLIES

BLOODLIES

Mr. Alade stood towering over his kneeling son, Tomiwa, his massive frame radiating an aura of authority. His wife, Mama Tomiwa, rushed into the room, positioning herself between her husband and child.

"Beat me instead," she pleaded, her eyes locked on Mr. Alade's.

"Why would I?" Mr. Alade retorted, his deep voice firm but controlled. "Woman, would you please step aside? Let me do my job."

Mama Tomiwa hesitated for a moment before stepping aside. Mr. Alade took a few deliberate steps forward, his eyes fixed on Tomiwa.

"Do you want to beat me?" Mama Tomiwa asked, her voice laced with a hint of defiance. "A woman?"

Mr. Alade's expression remained unreadable. "Same trick you use all the time. I'm not going to beat a woman. I'm going to take her aside."

With a swift motion, Mr. Alade gently carried Mama Tomiwa away to a nearby chair. As he turned back to Tomiwa, he heard Mama Tomiwa's cries.

"My head o, my head o! He has killed me o!" she wailed.

Mr. Alade's expression softened slightly as he turned to his wife. "What's the matter, dear? But I..."

Mama Tomiwa stylishly signaled to Tomiwa to run away, and he took advantage of the distraction to make a quick escape.

After Tomiwa ran out, Mama Tomiwa pushed Mr. Alade away, laughing.

"I'm okay! I'm sorry for tricking you," she said, still chuckling.

Mr. Alade's face darkened. "You call pushing someone down from the cliff of a mountain a joke?"

Mama Tomiwa's smile faltered. "What do you mean by that? I will talk to him. He will stop."

Mr. Alade's skepticism was evident. "Same thing you've been saying for years now. Please, go get me my food."

Mama Tomiwa's face fell, but she quickly regained her composure. "Oko mi, I prepared your favorite."

Just then, a messenger burst into the room, panting.

"Please, sir! Tomiwa has been taken to the market square for stealing!" he exclaimed.

Mama Tomiwa's eyes widened in alarm. "What did he steal? Why is he being beaten?"

Mr. Alade's expression turned cold. "A thief is a thief."

With that, he turned and walked into the room, laying down to sleep. Mama Tomiwa followed the messenger, leaving Mr. Alade to his slumber.

Later, Mama Tomiwa returned with the messenger, her face etched with worry.

"Wake up! Tomiwa is in trouble!" she urged, shaking Mr. Alade awake.

Mr. Alade groggily opened his eyes. "What do I have to do with you, woman?"

Mama Tomiwa's desperation was palpable. "Tomiwa has been taken to the police station!"

Mr. Alade's response was indifferent. "Okay."

He turned to the other side of the bed, leaving Mama Tomiwa to her tears.

Days passed, and Mama Tomiwa's concerns about Tomiwa's behavior only deepened.

"If you don't go to school, I will call and report to your dad," she warned him.

But Tomiwa remained recalcitrant, refusing to attend school. His defiance eventually earned him a beating from his father.

As Tomiwa pleaded for mercy, Mama Tomiwa's words echoed in his mind: "I warned you! Didn't I?"

But it wasn't until Tomiwa got into a fight at church and was taken to the pastor that he began to see the error of his ways.

The pastor's words struck a chord in Tomiwa's heart: "You must change your ways, Tomiwa. You have the potential to be great."

Tomiwa nodded, a newfound determination burning within him.

As his birthday approached, Mr. Alade surprised Tomiwa with gifts – a Bible, a book, and a bicycle. They went shopping together, and Tomiwa's heart swelled with gratitude.

But it was what happened next that truly marked a turning point in Tomiwa's life. As they returned home, Tomiwa surprised his father by washing his car.

Mr. Alade's eyes widened in surprise. "Tomiwa, what has come over you?"

Tomiwa smiled, feeling a sense of pride and purpose. "The pastor's words, Dad. I want to change."

Mr. Alade's face softened, and he felt a warmth in his heart. "My son, I am proud of you."

As they shared a tender moment, Mama Tomiwa looked on, tears of joy streaming down her face. She had always known that Tomiwa had the potential to be great, and now, finally, he was beginning to realize it himself.

But just as things were starting to look up, a surprise twist threw everything off balance. As they were celebrating Tomiwa's birthday, a stranger appeared at the door.

"Who are you?" Mr. Alade asked, his instincts on high alert.

The stranger smiled. "I'm Tomiwa's real father."

Mama Tomiwa's eyes widened in shock. "What are you talking about?"

The stranger explained that he had been separated from Tomiwa's mother many years ago, and had only recently discovered that he had a son.

As the stranger's words hung in the air, everyone's eyes turned to Mama Tomiwa, who slowly lowered her gaze, her face flushing with guilt.

The stranger pulled out a sheaf of papers and a phone, displaying a chat log. "I've been trying to reach out to her, but she's been ignoring me. I have evidence here, and I believe she can't deny it."

Tomiwa's eyes widened as he stared at his mother, his mind reeling with questions. He had always felt that Mr. Alade didn't like him, but despite that, he had begun to feel a sense of belonging with the man.

Now, as he looked at the stranger, he saw a resemblance that made his heart skip a beat. It was as if he was staring at a male version of himself.

Tomiwa felt a wave of confusion wash over him. Should he stay with Mr. Alade, the man he had grown to love despite his initial reservations, or should he leave with this stranger, his biological father?

Mr. Alade's face fell, his eyes filled with hurt and betrayal as he looked at Mama Tomiwa. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Mama Tomiwa's silence was deafening, and the room fell into an uncomfortable silence, each person lost in their own thoughts.

What would happen next? Would Tomiwa choose to stay with Mr. Alade or leave with his biological father? The decision would change his life forever.

Tomiwa's eyes widened as he stared at his mother, his mind reeling with questions.

Just as it seemed like the situation couldn't get any more intense, the door burst open and a chorus of voices shouted, "April Fool!"

Mr. Alade's face turned bright red as he realized he had been pranked. His workers, friends, and church members had all been in on the joke.

In shock, Mr. Alade pulled out a toy gun and pointed it at the crowd. "What is the meaning of this?" he thundered.

The crowd froze, terrified, until one of them stammered, "S-sir, it's just an April Fool's joke."

Mr. Alade's face slowly relaxed, and he lowered the gun. "You think this is funny?" he asked, trying to hide a smile.

The crowd nodded sheepishly, still chuckling.

Mr. Alade couldn't help but laugh too. "Well, I suppose that was a costly joke. Please, don't do that again."

As the tension dissipated, Mr. Alade turned to Tomiwa and hugged him tightly. "I love you, Tomiwa."

Tomiwa hugged him back, smiling. "I love you too, Dad."

Mama Tomiwa smiled, relieved that the joke had ended well. "I think we've all had enough excitement for one day."

The family shared a laugh, and the crowd began to disperse, still chuckling about the successful prank.

As they walked away, Mr. Alade turned to Mama Tomiwa and whispered, "You owe me one."

Mama Tomiwa grinned mischievously. "I'll make it up to you."

And with that, the family continued on, ready for their next adventure together.